January 8: The Government of Nepal has banned import of chicken and meat items in a bid to prevent bird flu from entering the country.

The Livestock Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has instructed eight quarantine offices and 24 quarantine checkposts to ensure that chicken and meat products do not enter the country.

The government adopted such safety measures following the deaths of thousands of birds in India’s Himanchal Pradesh, Kerala and other states due to bird flu within one week. The department has also instructed the 24 checkposts to remain on high alert.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development said in a statement that the import and export of any kind of bird species as well as meat products have been banned until further notice.

Spokesperson at the ministry Dr Shree Ram Ghimire informed that the government banned the export and import of meat products in accordance to the Animal Health and Livestock Services Act 2055.

He warned that anyone found importing meat products illegally would be punished according to the existing laws.

Information Officer at the Livestock Department Dr Chandra Dhakal said that doctors trained in controlling infectious disease of birds have been kept standby for any kind of emergency. The team of doctors and necessary equipment have been kept ready to deal with emergency situation as there is possibility of the disease spreading to Nepal due to the open border it shares with India, according to the health ministry officials.

Bird flu has surfaced in Nepal generally during every winter since the last ten years. Poultry farmers have been facing the problem in this season and the government has urged them as well as those involved in the poultry business to use quarantine facilities while transporting their produce. Also, health certificate is mandatory for conducting any kind of business related to poultry farming.